The Missing Link: Health Care Workforce and Low-Income Communities February 18, 2005

National Outlook: State of Health Care Workforce GDP for health care is approximately $689.4 billion or 6.3% share of the national total (U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2005). Health care industry is predicted to add nearly 3.5 million new jobs between 2002 and 2012, an increase of 30% (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2002). From , 10 of the 20 fastest growing occupations are predicted to be concentrated in health services: Medical assistants (59%), physician assistants (49%), home health aides (48%), and medical records and health information technicians (47%). (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2002).

National Outlook: Top 10 Occupational Projections (By Growth) Health Care-Related Occupations Projected Growth 2002 Median Annual Earnings Postsecondary Ed. & Training Medical Assistants58.9%$23,940 Moderate-term on the job training Home Health Aides48.1%$18,090Short-term on-the-job Medical Records and Health Info. Techs 46.8%$23,890Associate degree Physical Therapist Aides46.4%$20,670Short-term on the job Physical Therapist Assist.44.6%$36,080Associate degree Dental Hygienists43.1%$55,320Associate degree Occupational Therapist Aides 42.6%$22,040Short-term on-the-job Dental Assistants42.5%$27,240 Moderate-term on-the job training Occupational Therapist Assist. 39.2%$36,660Associate degree Occupational Therapists35.2%$51,990Bachelors degree

National Outlook: Top 10 Occupational Projections (Jobs in thousands) Health Care-Related Occupations Total Employment Change 2002 Median Annual Earnings Postsecondary Ed. & Training Registered Nurses623$48,090Associate degree Nursing Aides, Orderlies, and Attendants 343$19,960Short-term on-the-job Home Health Aides279$18,090Short-term on-the-job Medical Assistants215$23,940Moderate on-the-job LPN/LVN142$31,440 Postsecondary vocational award Dental Assistants113$27,240Moderate on-the-job Medical Records and Health Information Technicians 69$23,890Associate degree Dental Hygienists64$55,320Associate degree Pharmacy Technicians61$22,250Moderate on-the-job EMT and Paramedics59$24,030Postsecondary vocational award

National Outlook: Challenges to Increasing the Supply of a Skilled Health Care Workforce 2004 U.S. Department of Labor ETA Health Care Industry Study Identified the following Workforce Challenges: Recruitment and Retention Increasing available labor pool Increasing diversity and seeking workers from non-traditional labor pools Reducing Turnover Skill Development Entry-level worker preparation Incumbent worker training Need for targeted and specialized areas of skills

National Outlook: Challenges to Increasing the Supply of a Skilled Health Care Workforce (Contd) Capacity of Education and Training Providers Lack of academic and clinical instructors Lack of facilities and resources Lack of alignment between employer requirements, curricula, and specialized skills areas Sustainable Workforce: Leadership, Policy, Infrastructure Challenges/Issues Need for sustainable and adaptive workforce partnerships at national, state and local levels Opportunities to leverage funding and other resources Planning tools (data, projections, and information systems) Policy issues (i.e. regulation, certification)

Boston Health Care and Research Training Institute Began in 1999 as a pilot program Bridges to the Future Led by Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Development Corporation in partnership with Fenway Community Development Corporation and Mission Hill Residential Services. Partnership includes 11 employers, 3 training providers, 3 community organizations. Goal is to help economically disadvantaged job seekers and entry-level incumbent workers advance along a career ladder. (Pre-employment and employment components.

Greater Washington Board of Trade June 2004 Potomac Conference focused on regional health care issues Launched Health Care Task Force with 4 Work Groups Employer Coalition Health Policy Wellness Workforce Commissioned FutureWorks to conduct a regional healthcare workforce assessment and analysis